Vacuum-cleaner.



M. S. WRIGHT.

VACUUM CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1913.

1 1 4; 1 ,597 Patented June 1, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- M. S. WRIGHT.

VACUUM CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I2. 1913.

Patented June 1, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

avwemtoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS S. WRIGHT DE WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO M. S. COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAS$ACHUSETTS.

VACUUM-CLEANER.

Vacuiun-Cleancrs,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

-'lhis in\efntion; relates to improvements in vacuun'r'cleaners and has more particular reference to-maehines of a portable characterfadapted toniove'over a carpet or other surface, andf ini its movement to create a vaciniinjand draw into the machine, through a suitable nozzle, which engages the-surface dust-and other material from said surface.

itmong the aims and objects of the invention may be recited,.the provision of a machine of i the character mentioned with a view to compactness,and in which the number of parts are few. the construction simpie, the cost of production small, and eflieienev and operation high.

The invention includes a novel construction and relative arrangement of bellows, and dust reeeinm; chamber, and an assoriated novel construction and-arrangement of dust inlet member.

St ll further, the invention embraces of the dust (-han'iber may be readily accomplislud and the collected dust removed, and in this connection includes a .dust inletnozzle and dust receptacle removable together from the machine and novel means for supporting said parts in operative position on the machine.

Another img'xortant feature includes in a machine of the. character stated a removable dust box, and a removable end wall for the dustbox, together with an inlet nozzle, the said end wall being removable independently of the nozzle, to the end that the dust inlet nozzleis maintained in an accurate position relative to the surface and to the dust receptacle, and in air-tight engagementwith the latter.

Other and further improvements and novel details in the construction and ar- ,rangement of parts will be appreciated from the description to follow, which for a clear Specification 0! Letters Patent.

Application filed March 12, 1913.

im proved means \\'llt.!(l) access to the interior Patented June 1, 1915.

Serial No. 753,757. 7

understanding of the invention shouldbe.

tion, parts being shown in elevation, Fig. 3 is a. front elevation, Fig. 4 isagtransverse vertical section, andFig. 5 is a longitudinal section of-a slightly different embodiment of the invention.

'60 away, Fig. 2- is a longitudinal" vertical sec \Vith more particular referencefto the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding partsthroijlgh'out the several v ews, a casing generally-indicated by the numeral 1 is p'rovided,'the said casino,

preferably having relatively fixed top;,s1 e

and end walls. and a'bottom wall 2Jwhich preferably inclines from a "point adjacent the lower end of the rear endwall upwardly toward the top of the front end wall of the casing. This arrangement afiords con: venient support for the bellows, and makes possible a low down construction capable of getting underchairs, beds and other'fcom fined places, and the bottom wall 2 ispreferably cut out intermediate its sides and adjacent the rear end wall as at ,3 for'the reception of a supporting roller 4, whichxlatter has a shaft 5 supported. in'suitable-bear ings 6 on the wall ,2. The'said wheel4, also preferablyhas-a rubber or other friction tread 7. The vacuum creating means'pref-W erablv comprises a pair'of oppositely actmg bellows 8, the bottom wall f each of which is positioned on the upper surface of the inclined bottom 2, and the top wall 10 of.

which is pivotally connected at its forward end to the forward end of the bottom 9. the enlarged space adjacent the rear end of the. casing afforded by the inclined bottom per mitting: of the necessary expansion of the bellows, and making possible the low down or compact structure desired, The shaft 4 has oppositely projecting crank extensions 11 to which are, connected vertically project ing pitman rods 12-WhlCll' latter are pivot ally connected as at-13 to supporting arms or brackets 1A secured in any desired mare ner to the top wall 10 of the bellows. Because of the relative arrangement of the connections between the respective bellows and the crank shaft, it will be appreciated, that according to the movement of the ma chine, and the rotation of the wheel 4, said bellows are constantly acting, one being collapsed while the other is expanded, The top wall of the bellows has a suitable air outlet, whichis controlled in any desired manner by a spring held valve 15 of any approved construction. The bottom wall 2 of the (as ing has suitable air inlet openings 16, one

for each bellows communicating with an opening in the bellows, the said latter opening being valve controlled as usual, and secured to the bottom surface of the wall 2 is a plate 17 secured at its edges to said bot tom wall, and spaced from the bottom wall at points between said edges. A peripheral packing 18 interposed between the edges of the plate 1.7 and the bottom wall 2 make an air-tight connection between said parts. The said plate 17 overlies thjeopenings 16 in the bottom wall 2 and has an opening 19 adapted to establish communication between the air chamber afforded by said plate 19 and bottom wall 2 and the dust chamber about to be described.

The dust chamber is preferably in the form of a dust box .of a design and construction to fit in the space of the casing below the bottom wall 2, and preferably comprises a top wall 20, a bottom wall 21, which said walls converge toward their rear ends, and

side walls 22. Said walls are preferably relatively fixed, and provide a dust chamber the forward portion of which is enlarged, since it is positioned in the enlarged space adjacent the forward end of the casing below the inclined wall 2, and when so positioned the bottom wall 21 of the dust boX will lie in a substantiallyv horizontal plane and has an inlet opening adjacent the front end thereof, as indicated at 23. Secured to the bottom wall 21 adjacent the forward end thereof is a dust inlet nozzle 24 which has an elongated slot 25 communicating with the slot 23 in said bottomwall 21. The nozzle may have and preferably does have a metallic reinforce or facing'26, and said nozzle preferably extends from side to side of the machine and constitutes the support for the forwardend thereof. The top wall 20 of the dust box has an opening 27 adapted to register with the opening 19 in the plate 17 and positionedon said top wall 20 is a suitable packing 28 surrounding the opening 27 whereby when the dust box is posi io'ned, the same will be in air-tight engagement with the bottom wall 2 of the casing. A dust filtering-member 29 is preferably secured to the inside of-the top wall 20, as by spacing blocks 30, the filtering member being of any suitable fabric, and a wire fabric 31 interposed between said filtering member and the wall 20 and secured to the latter sepa rates the filtering member from said wall 20 and prevents any portion of the same being sucked up or into the opening under the action of the vacuum creating means, positioned on the wall 2; The top wall 20 has an extension 32 adapted to rest upon one or more spring supports 33 secured upon the bottom wall 3 of the casing.

The means for securing the dust box in position on the casing preferably takes the form of a substantially U-shaped bail member 34, the arms 35 of which have ofi'set terminals 36 pivotally mounted in suitable bearings 37 in the bottom 21 of the dust box, the bail being of a size to swing over the front of the easing into a position overlying the top of the casing and adapted to-engage suitable spring members 37 secured at one end to the front wall of the casing and having an opposite free end. It will be appreciated that when the dust receptacle is positioned on the casing with the extension 32 thereof in engagement with the spring supports 33, the bail 34 by being swung into engagement with the free end of the spring arms 37 will force the dust box into airtight engagement with the bottom wall 3 of the casing. A suitable stop 38 at one or both sides of the casing limits the swinging movement of said bail. A front end wall 39 having a suitable packing 40 is preferably removable independently of the nozzle or other parts of the dust box, the same being preferably supported by the dowel pins 41 on oneof the parts comprising said end wall 39 and the side walls 22, and cotiperating recesses on the other of said parts. Suitable bow springs 42 positioned on the front surface of said end wall 39 are adapted in the positioning of the dust box to engage the inner surface of the front wall of the casing and maintain an air-tight contact between said removable end wall 39 and the other walls of the dust box through the medium of the interposed packing 40.

In the preferred construction, I preferably employ a filtering bag 43 which said bag has a surrounding collar 44 adapted to abut against the collar 45 on the inner surface of the wall of the dust box adjacent the forward end thereof. In this instance, the removable end wall 89 of the-dust box has one or more projections 46 adapted to engage one or more how springs 47 on the filtering bag collar 44. In this way, as the dust box is positioned, the end wall 39 will be brought into air-tight engagement with the cooperating walls of the dust box in the manner previously described, and the proections 46 being brought into contact with the spring members 47 will force the collar 44 of the dust bag into engagement with the abutment collar 45 and in this way support the bag in position. If desired, when the removable bag is employed, the strip of fabric or other filter member 29 previously referred to may, if preferred, be dispensed with.

In the illustration of the invention disclosed in Fig. 2, wherein the dust bag is dispensed with, it is desirable to provide a suitable deflector 48 acting to guide the dust laden air upwardly toward the opening .31, and this member 48 also serves the additional function of preventing the dust as taken into the dust box from falling out through the opening 23 onto the surface.

A suitable push handle 49 is provided, the

same having a bifurcated lower end 50, the

arms of which are pivotally connected as at- 51, one t6 each side of the casing.

The operation may be reviewed as follows: The operator imparts back and forth movement to the machine through the medium of the handle, the wheel 4 constituting a support for the rear end of the machine, and the nozzle 24. a support for the forward end of the machine. The mo ement of the wheel 4 over the surface imparts movement to the respective bellows in opposite directions, whereby the dust or the like will be drawn through the nozzle opening irito the dust box, the air being filtered by the bag 43 and by the filtering fabric 29. \Vhen desired to deposit the collected dust, the operator swings the bail 34 out of engagement with the springs 37, which operation releases the forward end of the dust box, and the latter may then be readily removed by drawing the forward end of the dust box downwardly, thereby releasing the rear end thereof from the spring supports 33. When removed from the machine, the dust box forms a substantially closed receptacle for the dust, which may be conveniently moved to a place of deposit, when the removable end wall 39 is taken off, thereby permitting of access to the interior of the dust box. In case no filtering bag is employed, the dust box is turned upside down and tilted so that the same readily falls off of the surface formed by the filtering member 29 out through the open end of the dust box. When the filtering bag 43 is employed, upon removal of the end wall 39, the operator engages the collar 44 of the bag thereby bodily removing the bag, for emptying purposes.

I claim:

1. A portable vacuum cleaner comprising an elongated horizontally disposed casing having a closed front end wall, a supporting wheel, a push handle, vacuum creating means within the casing operatively connected with the supporting wheel, a dust chamber, a filtering bag within the dust chamber, and in communication with the vacuum creating means. a dust inlet nozzle projecting downwardly below said end wall to engage a surface and in communication with the filtering bag, a closure wall inclosing the end of the dust box, said closure wall being inclosed by the casing, and means whereby said closure wall may be bodily removed from the dust box independently of the nozzle.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a casing, vacuum creating means, a dust box positioned below the vacuum creating means and inclosed by the side walls of the casing, and having a dust inlet nozzle secured thereto adjacent one end ta engage the surface, said dust box and nozzle being removable together as a unit from the casing.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a casing having an inclined bottom Wall, vacuum creating means positioned on said wall and within the casing, a dust box positioned beneath said wall/in communication with said vacuum creating means, said dust box being inclosed by the walls of the casing and having a downwardly projecting inlet nozzle adjacent the forward end thereof.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a casing, an elongated partition wall within the casing, vacuum creating means positioned on said wall within the casing, a dust box arranged below said wall and in communication with the vacuum creating means, said dust box having a downwardly projecting inlet nozzle secured thereto, and means for removably supporting the dust box in position against said partition Wall and within the casing, and an end Wall of the box being also removable.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of adust box with top, bottom and sides. and a removable end wall, an inclosing cas ing for said box, a supporting wheel for the casing, vacuum creating means operatively connected with said wheel, and a nozzle adjacent the forward end of the dust box re- ,movable therewith and independent of said removable end wall.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a casing, having a detachable dust box positioned within the casing and provided with top, bottom and sides, and a removable end wallhaving retaining means to engage the inner surface of the casing, a supporting wheel for the casing, vacuum creating means operatively connected with said wheel, a nozzle adjacent the forward end of the dust box and independent of said removable end wall, filterin means positioned in said box, said means lieing removable and adapted to be held in position by said removable end wall of the dust box.

7. In a vacuum cleaner, thecombination of a horizontally disposed substantially rec-- tangular casing having intermediate the top and bottom thereof, an elongated supporting member, vacuum creatin means positioned on said member within t e casing, a bodily detachable dust box arranged below said supporting incrnber and in communication with the vacuum crmting moans through an opening in said supporting mem er. a dust inlet nozzle. :1 biaeltot adapted to support the rear end of said box. and a yieldnlile connection lietn'ren the forward end of mull box and the casing.

It a vacuum cleaner. the con'ibination of a casing having an elongutwl supporting member. YtiQHlilll creating means ptmitionoil on Silltl nit-niher. :i bodily ren'ioval le dust box arrangcd below said supporting nien'ibcr and in coimnunieation with the rueinun ore :iting means througl'i :in op ning in Foul supporting ii'ieinhor. du t inlet nozzl-a a roinovable lront mid wall tor the box, and it spring interposed betwoen mid front. end wall and the front end \(tlll of the casing.

9. In a \iltilllllit cleaner. the combinutiori of :1 casing. :1 pi'hh handle. :1 supporting Wheel, an elongat d supporting member in the casing. when: creating means on Said euipporting member liming an operative drive connection v, ith the supporting \TllOQl, a doe-t box positioned below Said supporting member, the bottom wall of the dust ox having :1 nozzle inlet (owning, the front Wall of the casing orerlring tho front wall oi the dust box. :1 spring on the casino adjacent said 'lront'wull. and a pivoted hail on the dust box adapted to em :id x-pring to support the dud box in p ilion.

ll. In a \tttjliillil cliwiner, the. COYH JlIMllOH of :1 casing liming a dust box with top, bottom ::1ulsi(les,zind an end wall. a supporting wheel for the c 'iofl vacuum eventing" nit-ans ,l operatn'elv connet-ttt. 1 h and Wh -eh and :1 proimtting downnozzle secured to and I Wardly from the bottom Wall ot the dust box adjacent the forward end of tho dust box the end wall of the dust box being detachable from the dust box independently of the nozzle.

11. in a portaljilo vacuum cleaner. the combination of a horizontally disposed casing, an elongated partition dividing the casing into an upper and :1 lower chamber, :1 Wheel support for the rear and of the casing, V210 uoin creating means operutively connected with the Whoel support and positioned in the uppor chamber of the casing, a dust receptacle posit oned in the lower chamber of the casing. =1 dus. inlet nozzle. to engage the our-taco coinnuinicating with the dust :1 fm'n ardly extending support adapted to ongug under :1 part at the roar end of the dust box to Form a support for this end of the float box and a relcanahlo holding memher at the t'ront end of the dust box engaging the casing,

.12. in :i loll t li lt vacuum cleaner, the com= inzitiou oi 1. horizontally disposed dust box, a horizontally disposed acuuin creating niouiis supported upon and in communication Will) the dust box, a nozzlo :it the front end of tho (lust box having :t dust inlet opening at its lowest edge communicating ith tho intm'ioi of tho dust box, said nozzle being lixe l in position relative. to the dust box. and said d r t box having an elongated i :\iis;rer:-:ciy cxteiuling opening through the iron! through which the collected dust is rr-inowd. :1 removable closure. Wall for said opening. and a \YliUGl support for the roar end of tllf: device.

ln ies ttiinoirv whereof I :illix my signature n 't'H'QIsC-I'IL'O of two \YltllOS MU H R135 S. \VRIGHT. 

